The Bow Valley Grizzlies have achieved what they set out to do this season, and that was return to the Provincial Finals.
The Grizzlies defeated the second ranked Red Deer Titans 41-24 in the senior men’s Div. 2 city championship on Sept. 23 to not only repeat as city champions, but also set up a rematch with the Leprechaun Tiger Rugby Club, who defeated the Grizzlies in the provincial final game last season.
Grizzlies head coach Ty Hawes was quite ecstatic with his team’s effort all season long.
“I’m really pumped for the boys, it’s fantastic to see them do well with all the hard work they put in at practice this season,” Hawes said.
“They left it all out on the pitch, which was really good to see.”
Hawes said his team has a bit of unfinished business after the way last season ended.
“The guys have worked extremely hard for this in the last nine months, so it’s great to be back in provincials, it’s what our goal was from day one,” Hawes said.
The city final game itself was a back and forth battle, which came down to the last few minutes when Bow Valley finally put the game away at the 78th minute of the second half. Hawes said the Titans were a much different team than the one the Grizzlies saw back in May.
“You’d expect nothing less from them (Red Deer), they’re going to come out hard and they’ve got a never say die attitude,” Hawes said.
“They’re a great team, and they really showed it. It was a close game up until that last try.”
The Tigers also repeated as city champions, when they defeated the Fort McMurray Knights 25-17.
The Grizzlies will make the trip up to Edmonton for the provincial final, which will take place Sept. 30 at the Ellerslie Rugby Park at 2 pm.
